Four things never to say to a CEO

In other words, you don’t know and didn’t do your homework. Welch fired one vice president who gave that answer several times during a presentation.

2. Making fun of a corporate program.

Yes, there are lots of vapid initiatives trotted out by marketing or PR or HR people: “Year of the Customer,” or “Zero Mistakes,” or “Zero Inventory,” or “Zero Drinking at Lunch.” And sadly enough, bad CEOs often buy in and pay these goofy ideas half-hearted lip service.

3. Something you find funny.

Skip the jokes, especially at the beginning of a presentation. I saw a young fast-riser start to come unglued during a presentation, after beginning with some humorous references to his subject.

4. “That can’t be done.”

What should you do if the boss wants something that’s really off the wall? I like to recall this scene from The Godfather: Part II: The boss wants somebody killed. His lawyer says, “Michael, you can’t do this. It’s impossible.”